NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi started his political innings in 2004 when he entered the Lok Sabha for the first time from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The development ended years of suspense on whether Sonia Gandhi, who herself was initially not keen on joining politics, would allow her son to take the plunge.
In 2007, Rahul became AICC general secretary in-charge of the Youth Congress and the NSUI and started democratising the two. In 2008, he campaigned actively in the UP Assembly polls but the Congress won just 22 of the 403 seats.
The 2009 general election saw the Congress return to power, with its tally going up from 145 to 206 seats in the Lok Sabha. Rahul, who campaigned across the country, was hailed as a youth icon and prime minister-in-waiting by the party. But Manmohan Singh continued to hold the top executive office.
Rahul directed his energies to UP, where the Congress had won 22 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. Hoping to turn the tables in the 2012 Assembly polls, he campaigned extensively but the party won only 28 seats.
Despite his failure to deliver electoral victory for his party, Rahul was made Congress vice-president in 2013 in the hope his elevation would salvage the situation for a scam-tainted UPA. But Rahul could not match the aggressive campaign of Narendra Modi and the Congress was reduced to just 44 seats in the 2014 general election.
“The simple reason for wanting Rahul as the next Congress chief despite his electoral failures is that he acts as a cohesive unit and prevents one faction from gaining control of the party. His elevation will prevent the party from disintegrating,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times.
Post 2014, the Congress’ slide continued. It suffered reverses in virtually all the states that went to polls. Bihar in 2015 and Punjab this year were exceptions, but the victories were attributed to alliance with RJD and JD-U in Bihar and Amarinder Singh in Punjab.
Sonia, meanwhile, started withdrawing herself due to ill-health, paving way for Rahul to take party decisions. “Elevating him to the top post is a fallback option for the party. He will help to keep it together. In the past, we have seen the Congress disintegrate without a Gandhi at the helm. For instance, during the PV Narasimha Rao regime,” said poll researcher Jai Mrug.
His report card
Rahul lacks both leadership skills and charisma. So far, he has failed to deliver in polls and has been found wanting at times of crisis
Crisis management
When Himanta Biswa Sarma revolted in 2015, Rahul’s leadership came a cropper. He joined BJP and led it to a huge win in 2016 Assembly polls
Rahul failed to keep the grand alliance in Bihar together despite knowing about possible exit of Nitish
During Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat this year, BJP went all out to defeat Ahmed Patel by allegedly luring Cong MLAs. Sonia had to deploy senior party leaders to counter BJP
Electoral performance
April 2007, UP Assembly elections
Extensively toured the state, the hallmark of his campaign being stopping for tea and meals at roadside shops
Result: BSP bagged 207 of 403 seats, Cong managed 22
April-May 2009,
Lok Sabha election
Was one of the party’s star campaigners, although many poll pundits did not give Cong any chance at re-election
Result: Congress bettered its previous tally of 145 and formed the govt at the Centre with 206 seats
February-March 2012,
UP Assembly elections
Trying to regain lost ground in the state, he campaigned heavily in all parts of UP
Result: Samajwadi Party swept to power winning 228 of 403 seats; Cong got 28
April-May 2014,
Lok Sabha polls
Was seen as Congress’ campaign face to counter the Modi wave sweeping across the country
Result: BJP formed the govt winning 282 seats; Congress suffered its worst defeat, getting a paltry 44 seats
2016, Assam Assembly polls
He campaigned for four days
Result: Cong won only 26 of the 126 seats; BJP won a massive 81 seats
2017, Assembly elections in UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur
Rahul was again the face of the party’s campaign, especially in UP
Result: Lost Uttarakhand, UP, Manipur and Goa to BJP